Fuel Cells Could Be a "Game-Changer" for Carbon Capture

Page 1 of 6

More

Archives (http://www.powermag.com/publications/)

Business & Technology for the Global Generation Industry Since 1882

Jobs (http://www.powermag.com/careers-in-power/)

Subscribe (http://www.powermag.com/subscribe-to-power-print-e-newsletters-and-job-alerts/)
Advertise (http://www.powermag.com/mediakit/)

Search POWER
Official Publication of:

Follow Us:

Home (http://www.powermag.com)

Coal (http://www.powermag.com/category/coal/)

Gas (http://www.powermag.com/category/gas/)
Nuclear (http://www.powermag.com/category/nuclear/)
Renewables (http://www.powermag.com/category/renewables/)
International (http://www.powermag.com/category/international/)
Business (http://www.powermag.com/category/business/)
O&M (http://www.powermag.com/category/om/)
myPOWER (http://engage.powermag.com/content/home?mypower)
Find all of your industry-related resources in one spot. Visit the POWER STORE (HTTP://STORE.POWERMAG.COM/?LIMIT=24) now.

Equipment health monitoring

fully integrated into your DCS
Home (http://www.powermag.com) /
Business (http://www.powermag.com/category/business/) /
Fuel Cells Could Be a Game-Changer for Carbon Capture

risk
DecisionBriefs | OSIsoft

Fuel Cells Could Be a Game-Changer for

Carbon Capture
Video: How Connected Services Fits the
Needs of a Large Scale Energy Storage
Company

05/11/2016 | Thomas Overton

PRINT MODE : ON
Save to myPOWER

UniEnergy Technologies, a clean tech large scale

energy storage company, needed data from all of
their customer sites so they could continue to
make improvements to their batteries and
maintain t...
View More

Fuel cells powered by natural gas, biogas, and hydrogen are a rapidly expanding option for
distributed generation, with fuel cellbased power plants being deployed in capacities into
tens of megawatts. But as the technology improves and costs begin to scale, opportunities for
other applications are being explored.
One such application may even go beyond power generation. Danbury, Conn.based FuelCell
Energy (FCE), one of the largest suppliers of fuel cells worldwide, and ExxonMobil announced
(http://fcel.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=969386) a partnership on
May 5 to explore the possibilities for using fuel cells for carbon capture.

http://www.powermag.com/fuel-cells-could-be-a-game-changer-for-carbon-capture/?print...

5/12/2016

Fuel Cells Could Be a "Game-Changer" for Carbon Capture

Page 2 of 6

Fuel Cells Using Flue Gas

Email Alert Sign-up

According to Kurt Goddard, FCEs vice president of investor relations, the application will
depart from the traditional method of powering the fuel cells with ambient air and methane.
What we found is there is a unique side reaction and benefit of our standard typical fuel cell,

Get POWERnews FREE!

POWERnews is a weekly e-newsletter that keeps you
informed about the latest developments in the
electric power industry. Get the next POWERnews
delivered to your inbox.

and instead of ambient air, we can bring in the flue gas from a coal plant or gas plant, and we
can concentrate the CO2 that is coming in.

Email Address

Sign-up

Normally in FCEs carbonate fuel cells, methane is reformed in the cell anode to create CO2
and H2, which is then used to generate electricity by combining with oxygen from ambient air

More Jobs
JOB FEED
(http://jobs.powermag.com/jobseeker/search/results/)
to create an electric current and exhaust streams of water vapor and CO2. The carbon-capture

fuel cell will still be powered by methane, but by using flue gas instead of ambient air, the
chemical reactions in the cell can concentrate up to 90% of the incoming CO2, which flows with

Business Development Manager, GTS Bolttech Mannings, Inc. - North

the CO2 generated in the reforming process into the normal exhaust stream, where it can

Versailles, PA

easily be separated from the water vapor.

(http://jobs.powermag.com/jobseeker/job/28357558/)

A critical differenceand bonusin this process is that rather than being a parasitic drain on

Communications Intern - Exelon

the plant, it actually generates additional power (Figure 1). According to FCE, the power
output is larger than the parasitic drain from conventional carbon-capture technologies.

Corporation - Chicago, IL
(http://jobs.powermag.com/jobseeker/job/28475121/)
Foreman - Mechanical/Maintenance Exelon Corporation - Wharton, TX
(http://jobs.powermag.com/jobseeker/job/28475115/)

Search Jobs
Post a Job
(http://jobs.powermag.com/c/profile/index.cfm?
site_id=2669&referrer=2669)
Post a Resume
(http://jobs.powermag.com/r/jobs/post/post.cfm?
site_id=2669)

(http://cdn.powermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/module-lineup-shadow-edit.jpg)
1. Fuel cells powered by natural gas could potentially function as carbon capture technology by using power plant flue gas instead
of ambient air. Courtesy: FuelCell Energy

Most Read ()

In addition, Goddard said, We can destroy roughly two-thirds of the NOx in the flue gas.
How much CO2 can be captured depends on how many fuel cells are employed, as each can
handle only a certain amount of flue gas. A typical 500-MW combined cycle plant would need
around 120 MW of fuel cells to achieve 90% capture, Goddard said, while an equivalent coal
plant might need around 400 MW of fuel cells because of its lower efficiency.

Most Commented ()

Most Shared ()

Most Read
Is EOR a Dead End for Carbon Capture
and Storage?
(http://www.powermag.com/is-eor-adead-end-for-carbon-capture/)

You can add a couple over time and do it in increments. You do not have to do it all at once.

FERC Blocks Ohio Power Plant Subsidy

Deal (http://www.powermag.com/fercblocks-ohio-power-plant-subsidy-deal/)
Areva Admits to Irregularities in
Hundreds of Nuclear Plant Components,

http://www.powermag.com/fuel-cells-could-be-a-game-changer-for-carbon-capture/?print...

5/12/2016

Fuel Cells Could Be a "Game-Changer" for Carbon Capture

Page 3 of 6

Commercial deployment is still years away, but representatives from both companies are

Possible Falsified Documents

optimistic about the potential, which Vijay Swarup, vice president for research and

(http://www.powermag.com/areva-

development at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering called a game changer for carboncapture technology.

admits-to-irregularities-in-hundreds-ofnuclear-plant-components-possiblefalsified-documents/)
Malaysia Commissions 1-GW
Ultrasupercritical Coal Plant

Profitable Carbon Capture?

(http://www.powermag.com/malaysiacommissions-1-gw-ultrasupercritical-coal-

Efforts to deploy carbon-capture at grid scale have run into serious problems with CO2

plant/)

capture performance and costs. The only operational utility-scale facility, SaskPowers

EPA Motions Court for Weighty Changes

Boundary Dam Project in Canada (http://www.powermag.com/saskpowers-boundary-dam-

to Final Coal Ash Rule

carbon-capture-project-wins-powers-highest-award/), suffered from substantial operational

(http://www.powermag.com/epa-

problems its first year of operation, though it has recently seen more success

motions-court-for-weighty-changes-tofinal-coal-ash-rule/)

(http://www.powermag.com/saskpower-carbon-capture-facility-operating-more-reliably/).
Southern Co.s Kemper County project in Mississippi has been plagued with delays and huge
cost overruns (http://www.powermag.com/kemper-county-igcc-costs-rise-and-delays-loomagain/) that most recently have drawn attention from the Securities and Exchange
Commission (http://www.powermag.com/southern-co-kemper-igcc-delays-cost-surges-areunder-sec-scrutiny/).
Other projects, such as NRGs retrofit project at the W.A. Parish plant
(http://www.powermag.com/commercial-scale-carbon-capture-project-starts-construction-intexas/) near Houston and the proposed Texas Clean Energy Project
(http://www.powermag.com/is-polygeneration-the-future-for-clean-coal/) near Midland, have
faced criticism that their reliance on enhanced oil recovery negates climate benefits of carbon
capture (http://www.powermag.com/is-eor-a-dead-end-for-carbon-capture/). No matter the
approach, all current carbon-capture technologies suffer from substantially increased costs of

Tweets by @POWERmagazine

generation and reduced net power output.

The possibilities of employing fuel cells to reduce power plant emissions for both coal plants
(http://www.powermag.com/is-a-new-hybrid-system-the-cure-for-coal-powers-ills/) and
natural-gas combined cycle plants (http://www.powermag.com/next-generation-of-gas-firedpower-starts-to-take-shape/), and potentially capture CO2 have drawn research attention in
recent years, though applications have typically involved placing the fuel cells in front of the

POWER magazine Retweeted

Tom Overton
@thomas_overton
Fuel Cells Could Be a "Game-Changer" for
Carbon Capture powermag.com/fuel-cells-cou
10h

turbines or replacing typical combustion processes altogether. The FCE-ExxonMobil initiative

is among the first to look at placing the fuel cells after combustion.
POWER magazine Retweeted
Sonal Patel

ExxonMobil began working with FCE on this project several years ago, Goddard said,
beginning with informal discussions that led to more formal testing. With the potential now

@Sonalcpatel
In new #IEO2016 international outlook,
@EIAgov expects softened power demand

clear, the two companies have gone public with the initiative. The partnership will focus
initially on how to further increase efficiency in separation and concentration of the CO2 from
gas turbine exhaust. That is expected to take one to two years.

despite economic growth worldwide.

ow.ly/KX3B30074n1
Embed

View on Twitter

Goddard said FCE and ExxonMobil scientists will be working to better understand the
chemical processes that are taking place and how they respond to different compositions of
flue gas. Assuming success, the second phase will move to a small-scale pilot project for
additional testing, then integration into a larger-scale pilot facility.
Thomas W. Overton, JD is a POWER associate editor (@thomas_overton, @POWERmagazine).

PRINT MODE : ON

myPOWER


VIDEOS & INFOGRAPHICS

http://www.powermag.com/fuel-cells-could-be-a-game-changer-for-carbon-capture/?print...

5/12/2016

Fuel Cells Could Be a "Game-Changer" for Carbon Capture

Page 4 of 6

my dashboard
(http://engage.powermag.com/content/home?
mypower)
BUSINESS

COAL

GE Power Picks Up Doosans HRSG

Business Unit
(http://www.powermag.com/gepower-picks-up-doosans-hrsgbusiness-unit/?mypower)

SaskPower Carbon Capture Facility

Operating More Reliably
(http://www.powermag.com/saskpower-(http://cdn.powermag.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/09/Drone1.jpg.jpeg)
carbon-capture-facility-operatingmore-reliably/?mypower)

GEs shopping spree in the power sector

continued on May 10 as GE Power signed

Though it experienced a number of problems in

its first year of operation, the SaskPower

Read More 

Read More 

(http://www.powermag.com/ge-power-picks-

(http://www.powermag.com/saskpower-

up-doosans-hrsg-business-unit/?mypower)

carbon-capture-facility-operating-more-

Learn how to make the best use of drones

reliably/?mypower)
BUSINESS

and robots at the Drone Workshop at

ELECTRIC POWER 2016!
Has our April cover story on using drones and
robots for power plant O&M
(http://www.powermag.com/leveraging-dronesrobots-om-savings/) left you wanting to learn
more? Did you watch our video on an actual

3F: Suppressing Dust by Diverse

Coal Handling Methods (?
mypower)

Southern Co. Kemper IGCC Delays,

Cost Surges Are Under SEC Scrutiny
(http://www.powermag.com/southernLearn More (?mypower)
co-kemper-igcc-delays-costsurges-are-under-sec-scrutiny/?
mypower)

wind turbine inspection

(https://youtu.be/tfQ3FwIL5x8)?
See what all the buzz is about during ELECTRIC
POWERs
(http://www.electricpowerexpo.com/) first-ever
Drone Workshop! Attendees will learn how

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

(SEC) is conducting a formal investigation
concerning costs and delays

drones can help power professionals assess

Read More 

evaluate temperature distribution through aerial

(http://www.powermag.com/southern-co-

thermal imaging cameras, and more. The

kemper-igcc-delays-cost-surges-are-under-

workshop will also offer a hands-on flight

sec-scrutiny/?mypower)

experience for anyone interested. Get more

safety conditions at plant sites, inspect

equipment deep inside hard to reach areas,

details on ELECTRIC POWERs drone workshop

here: View video (https://youtu.be/9V_ZJ5AIZ8g)

Visit our video archive (/power-videoarchive/)

May 11, 2016

Annual passenger travel tends to

increase with income

Source: EIA, International Energy Outlook, Bureau of Transportation

Statistics, National Transportation Statistics

INDUSTRY NEWS

Nuclear Power in the United Kingdom,

Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2016 Capacity, Generation, Investment Trends,
Strategies, Industry Verticals & Forecasts
(http://www.emailwire.com/release/242792Nuclear-Power-in-the-United-KingdomMarket-Outlook-to-2030-Update-2016Capacity-Generation-Investment-TrendsStrategies-Industry-Verticals-Forecasts.html)

http://www.powermag.com/fuel-cells-could-be-a-game-changer-for-carbon-capture/?print...

5/12/2016

Fuel Cells Could Be a "Game-Changer" for Carbon Capture

Page 5 of 6

Get your 5-cent natural gas, right here in

Canada
(http://www.investing.com/news/stockmarket-news/get-your-5-cent-naturalgas,-right-here-in-canada-401498)

Hawaii solar and energy storage projects

may deliver returns for EnSync
(http://www.jsonline.com/business/hawaiisolar-and-energy-storage-projects-maydeliver-returns-for-ensync-b99723984z1379064651.html)

NM breezes into wind-energy gigawatt club

(http://www.abqjournal.com/772394/nmbreezes-into-wind-energy-gigawattclub.html)

Canadian natural gas prices hit lowest level

on record as Fort McMurray fires curtail
demand

(http://www.ottawacitizen.com/canadian+natural+prices+lowest+lev
INDUSTRY PRESS
GE Power Expands Offerings and Capability
by Acquiring Doosan Engineering &
Construction Heat Recovery Steam
Generator Business
(http://www.powermag.com/pressreleases/ge-power-expands-offerings-andcapability-by-acquiring-doosan-engineeringconstruction-heat-recovery-steamgenerator-business/)
Solano County landfill gas-to-energy project
providing clean power to homes
(http://www.powermag.com/pressreleases/solano-county-landfill-gas-toenergy-project-providing-clean-power-tohomes/)
DNV GL-led project gives green light for
wind-powered oil recovery
(http://www.powermag.com/pressreleases/dnv-gl-led-project-gives-greenlight-for-wind-powered-oil-recovery/)
AMSC Announces D-VAR System Orders for
the Electric Grid in Australia
(http://www.powermag.com/pressreleases/amsc-announces-d-var-systemorders-for-the-electric-grid-in-australia/)
Energy Companies Launch Critical
Transmission Equipment Sparing Company
(http://www.powermag.com/pressreleases/energy-companies-launch-criticaltransmission-equipment-sparing-company/)
More (http://www.powermag.com/pressreleases/)

UPCOMING EVENTS
O&M and Lifecycle Management Strategies
for CCGT Power Plants, 05/17 - 05/19
(http://uk.tacook.com/events/conferences/details/omand-lifecycle-management-strategies-forccgt-power-plants.html)
Gas Power, 06/07 - 06/08 (http://worldarenacorp.com/index.php/gas-experts-2016texas-programme)

http://www.powermag.com/fuel-cells-could-be-a-game-changer-for-carbon-capture/?print...

5/12/2016

Fuel Cells Could Be a "Game-Changer" for Carbon Capture

Page 6 of 6

GEA Baseload Renewable Energy Summit,

06/07 - 06/08 (http://www.geoenergy.org/NationalGeothermalSummit/Main.aspx)
ACI's 3rd National Capitalizing on Grid-Scale
Energy Storage, 06/08 - 06/10
(http://www.wplgroup.com/aci/event/acis3rd-national-capitalizing-on-grid-scaleenergy-storage/)
APPA National Conference, 06/10 - 06/15
(http://www.publicpower.org/Events/Landing.cfm?
ItemNumber=29890&navItemNumber=38289)
EEI Annual Convention, 06/12 - 06/15
(http://www.eei.org/about/meetings/meeting.aspx?
EEIEventId=5DF6CB2C-06A9-43E2-893FE259E5895543)
Power Experts, 06/15 - 06/16
(http://worldarenacorp.com/index.php/power-experts-2016indianapolis-home)
ASME Power & Energy Conference &
Exhibition, 06/26 - 06/30
(https://www.asme.org/events/powerenergy)
59th ISA POWID/EPRI Symposium, 06/27 06/30 (https://www.isa.org/powid2016/)
World Nuclear Exhibition, 06/28 - 06/30
(http://www.world-nuclearexhibition.com/en/)
Power Plant Pollutant Control and Carbon
Management "MEGA" Symposium, 08/16 08/19 (http://www.megasymposium.org)
45th Turbomachinery & 32nd Pump
Symposia, 09/12 - 09/15
(http://tps.tamu.edu)
EUCG Fall Conference & Workshop, 09/18 09/21
(https://www.eucg.org/events/future.cfm)
Energy Storage North America, 10/04 - 10/06
(http://www.esnaexpo.com/)
ELECTRIC POWER, PRESENTED BY POWER
MAGAZINE 19TH ANNUAL, 04/10 - 04/13
(http://www.electricpowerexpo.com)

Follow Us:

About (http://www.powermag.com/about-us)

Contact (http://www.powermag.com/contact-us)

Subscribe (http://www.powermag.com/subscribe-to-power-print-e-newsletters-and-job-alerts/)

RSS (http://www.powermag.com/feed/)
Advertise (http://www.powermag.com/mediakit/)

Contribute (http://cdn.powermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/1_ContributorGuidelines_2014.pdf?_ga=1.248967175.1450376133.1440038585)
More ()
2016 Access Intelligence, LLC All Rights Reserved.

http://www.powermag.com/fuel-cells-could-be-a-game-changer-for-carbon-capture/?print...

5/12/2016